A Slice of Heaven: Pie Shops from Across America

Need further proof that pie is one of America's favorite desserts? According to the American Pie Council, 113 million Americans have eaten pie for breakfast. Whenever you choose to eat it, you can find some of the best pies in the country at these specialty shops. Made the old-fashioned way, these treats are great to give as a gift or to grace your holiday table.

Loveless Cafe, Nashville, TN

What's the perfect finale to biscuits and fried chicken? Pie, of course! While it's hard to decide which one is truly the standout, the list at the Loveless Cafe includes fudge (pictured), coconut cream, Steeplechase (boubon pecan), and the sinful peanut butter pie in a dark chocolate cookie crust topped with fresh whipped cream. Ready to head to Nashville? If you're not able to get there the Loveless Cafe will be coming out with their first cookbook, Easier Than Pie: Simple Southern Desserts from the Loveless Cafe. We can't wait!

The Cherry Hut, Beulah, MI

In the land of Northern Michigan, the Cherry Hut rules. Cherry pie is the only pie they sell, except for one week a year when they make an exception for autumn-inspired apple pies. Their famous creation is loaded with red tart cherries in a lard-based crust. It stands alone, but it's even better with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.

The Elegant Farmer, Mukwonago, WI

Yes, a paper bag makes all the difference in the baking of this classic dessert. The story goes that 21 years ago the previous owner found the recipe in a cookbook. She decided to try it out and realized she messed up a few of the ingredients. That fortunate mistake created a firmer, sweeter, crispy sugar cookie crust that makes their pie so unique.

Briermere Farm, Riverhead, NY

About 100 miles east of New York City you can always find hungry New Yorkers lined up for a taste of farm-fresh pies and hot-out-of-the-oven egg bread. This famed farmstand's apple pie has people always asking, "what's in the crust?" Their secret: half lard and half vegetable margarine. During the holidays they also offer Christmas cookies, but it's the pies that always sell out!

High 5 Pies, Seattle, WA

Small is big right now and everyone's getting in on the action. High 5 specializes in the little stuff like their handheld, single-serve items: Flipsides, Cutie Pies, and those cute-as-a-button Piejars. No matter that they are small, these pies come in grown-up flavors: cherry almond, marionberry, caramel pecan, and savory pies like their spinach and feta.

The Little Pie Company, New York City

This favorite neighborhood spot in the Theater District serves the denizens of the Big Apple with showstopping pies. Their Sour Cream Apple Walnut starts with thin slices of Granny Smiths, which are folded with sour cream and spices and topped off with brown sugar and walnuts. The filling is baked in an all-butter crust, which the shop says gives an added dose of flavor.

Dangerously Delicious, Baltimore, MD, and Washington D.C.

You know a pie has to be pretty darn good if it's been featured on nearly every Food Network show. In fact, Ace of Cakes's Duff Goldman has even declared Dangerously Delicious's Baltimore Bomb, "the best thing he ever ate." No doubt. The signature pie is prepared by layering shortbread crust with crushed Berger cookies (a local Baltimore favorite), fudge and a custard mix on top. During the baking process, the shortbread rises and cookies sink to the bottom, leaving three gooey, chocolatey layers behind. Grab the milk!

Bakesale Betty, Oakland, CA

The key difference between owner Allison Bakarat's pies and other pies is in the crust. Hers is simple  butter, flour, salt and water. The result? A flaky shell with just the right amount of saltiness. Bakesale Betty's pies are filled to the brim with fruits of the season, which are locally sourced.

Emery's Organic Blueberry Farm, New Egypt, NJ

Three wonderfully juicy fruits make up the Trifecta: peaches, blueberries, and cherries. And this season's pies may be their best ever, as the drought that hit the east coast, produced some very high quality fruit. In addition to the enticing Trifecta, families head to the 60 acre preserve for hay rides, corn mazes, and pick-your-own blueberries during the summer months.

Tee-Eva's Old-Fashioned Pies and Pralines, New Orleans, LA

Most Popular Pie: A tossup between the Sweet Potato and Deep Dish Pecan.

Way down south, pralines are the chosen sweet. And in New Orleans "Aunt" Eva is famous for her fantastic pralines and her pies. Most people just call it sweet potato, but Eva likes to refer to it as her "yum, yum sweet potato pie." According to Eva, the special ingredient is the "love and patience" that goes into each and every sweet she touches.

Four & Twenty Blackbirds, Brooklyn, NY

Brooklynites flock to this retro shop for their ever-changing menu of both savory and sweet pies developed from vintage cookbooks. From Black Bottom Oatmeal (think oatmeal chocolate chip cookies mashed and heated up in a crust) to their seasonal pies like Bourbon Sweet Potato (pictured).

Round Swamp Farm, East Hampton, NY

The Lester family has been operating their 300-year-old farm for nine generations. In the 1950s, Carolyn Lester Snyder set up a stand to give locals a taste of their ripe produce and the rest is history. Pies are baked year-round, but during the summer it's all about the berries. The Tri-berry features blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries with their signature buttery crumb topping.

Julian Pie Company, Julian, CA

Take your basic apple pie recipe and add a crunchy crumb topping and you've got The Original. If you're planning to order one of these classics, the Julian bakers are prepared. Currently, they are peeling 300 bushels of apples per week to produce the more than 35,000 pies they will provide during the Thanksgiving holiday.

Achatz Handmade Pie Co., Detroit, Michigan-area

The folks in Michigan surely love their berries and their berry pies. At one of the seven locations of the family-run Achatz's, indulge in a four-berry pie chock full of blueberries, raspberries, cherries, and blackberries covered in a crumb topping  a perfect blend of sweet and tart.

Betty's Pies, Two Harbors, MN

Though Betty no longer operates the shop, her homespun pies live on. People come from far and wide to purchase the fruit or cream pies, like the 5-Layer Chocolate Cream. It starts with a flaky lard-based crust, piled on with a layer of dark chocolate ganache, cinnamon meringue, whipped cream and finished with a thick layer of chocolate cream.